Redboost

Thanks for comments gents! My only reference was the Osprey Malta Spitfire Aces book and the kit's instructions are obviously based on the same. The color scheme is just my interpretation of the sole BR301 period picture I was able to found; the codes and the other camouflages features (unpainted spine etc.) just follow the instructions. Cheers Libor

Hello, I've just finished the new Sword kit built from the test-shots. A review should appear in a future edition of MAI. BR301, 249.sq, Takali, believed to be the most succesul Spitfire over Malta. Cheers Libor

The kit was just released, HERE just started a build, sprue shots are on page 2.

Thanks everyone for nice comments! Yes Steve, those pics were a bit inspirational, I looked at them very often and thought this must be my next project. Actually, the build provoked one of my club fellow, we've started a "double build", but I was little bit faster Raif, good luck with your collection, sounds great! My squadron recently counts more than 20 built Spitfires, my favourites are the high flying and PR versions

Thanks gents! Tony, no doubt your will be great as usually, and in 1/32 scale - lovely!

Hello, this is my attempt at unusual "tropicalized" Mk.VI that briefly operated in 1943 in Egypt against German high flyers before being converted to PR machine. As I wanted to try a "budget" project (and save my Tamiya Mk.V's for the other projects) I went for cheap and pretty good Revell kit mixed with left spare parts, mainly from Italeri Mk.V (Vokes filter, canopy) and Smer Mk.VI kit (propeller, extended wing tips). Decals come from my decal bank, unfortunately the "A" seems to too narrow, but I could not find better match. Cheers Libor

Thanks for the info Steve, very interesting! Perhaps I will add it to my "must visit" lisit for my next UK stay; I suggest the museum is open for public? I'm also fortunate working in similar old buildings in a factory that was founded in 1804 and I think I quite understad that 'touch of history'. Our factory produced at some point in the past steam engines for German and Austro-Hungarian Kriegsmarine, unfortunately most of the unique documents in the archives were destroyed during WWII bombing. Back the the Defiant, it goes together pretty quickly except the rear deck fairing that is too long and must be shorten to fit the turret; plus some typical filling and sanding here and there, but nothing tremendous. The only add-on are the resin 0.303 gun barrels. Cheers Libor

Many thanks gents for nice comments! Cheers Libor

Hello, this is the latest re-pop of the MPM's Defiant kit in Battle of Britain marking. The L7006 was flown, among the others, by the most succesfull Defiant crew ever, E.R.Thorn / F.J.Barker, scoring 12,33 victories. The MPM kit is pretty good being made in galvanized tools; however, the transition parts to the pilot canopy are not accurate and the turret is slightly oversized. The gun barrels come from Quickboost. Cheers Libor

Great looking monster Patrick! Perhaps you should consider buying a garage

Hello, I apologize for a stupid question, obviously I missed something - did Italeri indeed release a 1/72 Mk.VC kit?

Good job Patrick, very nice and clean finish!

Thanks for comments! The Swedish examples should be covered too, I guess.

Hello, this is my latest addition to the CMR's Vampire range, a Swiss machine serving as "Target Actor", and the family together (so far). Cheers Libor

It depends, the number for limited run mould could vary from 500-3000 pcs, it is not predictable. The full metal moulds last much longer, I remember the Eduard figures presented at some occassion, the number of produced Albatros D.V kits was around 20,000 examples and they are still in good condition. The metal plated molds will be somewhere in between.

They all use sort of resin molds except MPM group, that use for certain range (usually directly under MPM label, not Special Hobby or Azur) so called galvanized molds - a thin metal layer is applied on resin molds in a bath using electro-chemical reaction.

Walrus: it is 'new' tooling, see the pictures I attached above, they show the parts included in the SEAC boxing. Wooksta: yes, they have many tempting subjects, e.g. the Vildebeast. The new late Spitfires range (Mk.22/24/46) under Admiral label together with Bü-181 and 1/48 scale Vengeance is due within two weeks, so let's see if the miracle will happen

To Graham Boak: I'm sorry, I feel my previuos post was too offending, but all I wanted to say is the AZ Model kits feature again and again so fundamental quality issues that it is time to give the matter the right name (to be fair, shapewise they are usually acurate, e.g. the Spit I is fine). One of the most famous AZ guy statement is that he made one of the previous kit's master within a afternoon (I mean a complete kit's master patterns!) - that's selfpeaking. This is the way he works. If you compare their kits with similar producers, e.g. RS Model (they started the bussines approx. in the same time, making the resin kits first, then switched to plastic - same as Legato/AZ Model), the difference is several light years, besides excellent moulding quality the building comfort is the most noticeable. I really do not understand why people are so excited ove and over again, i think they should build a kit and only then comment on, unless they are box collectors.

Just few examples of AZ Model Hurricane IV kit's features: - the wheel wells, of dear, where I saw them last time, yes exactly the same like the Hasegawa. Unfortunately, completely wrong. The picture shows the original parts removed by motor tool and CMK resin replacement. - starboard fuselage halve is shorter, correction has been made by inserting a plasticard. Look at the rear cockpit part behind the pilot head, again see Hasegawa kit and again completely wrong - the awful duct - an example of AZ Model quality after ten years in plastic modelling (pictures made by a colleague of mine)

To Graham Boak: did you ever tried to build a single AZ Model kit or are you one of those theoretical modelers that now every srew on Hurricane but never built a kit? It was just enough for me to see the unpainted presentation kit to know I will never bother with AZ Model Hurricane. Did you built the Hind? How did you corrected the warped upper wing, short struts and milion other small things? Can you show me picture of the built example? If you are happy just because the parts look nice in the box then please donť say anything more...

Agree. That's the same with the Spitfire I-V kits, just imagine how nice the world would be, if they have played with the masters and moulds litttle bit longer... I struggled once with the early Spitfire I and I'm not gonna to repeat it. And they announced the Spit IX, Mk.21/22/46 etc. OMG!

The AZ guy told me, personally... He stupidly tells his stories to a broad audience at hobby shows etc. I dont care that much about the rip off, but what really bother me is poor quality of his kits with no sings of improvement... That unfortunately the case with the Mk IV, too.

Don't want to pick up on you, but it is not typicial "czech" but "AZ" limited run kit; fortunately, a typical czech limited run kit is far better. This is just pirated mix of revell, hase and airfix kits mastered in hurrry and quickly sell to hannants to feed their "pre-orders. Unfortunately, there are still hundreds of people out ther who buy this s**t and support this 'robbery'.

Thanks gents! Dogsbody: sorry, this time no article . The collector rings were prepainted in Alclad II Duraluminium and then oversprayed with several thin coats of black/brown mix to imitate the burnt metal.

hey folks, my latest... the hasegawa kit with some aftermarkets from eduard, quickboost and pd decals. V8447 from 89.squadron, north africa 1943. I'm aware there are certain issues about the camouflage and marking, but i could't resits havin in my collection the Shipard/Oxby mount. cheers Libor